I am looking for a round diamond on a pretty small budget. I have $6,000 to spend on the diamond and another $800 for the setting. We already picked out a setting which will be a classic “Tiffany” setting in yellow gold. We have looked through so many stores and we (especially me) are totally confused as to what we should be look for. I would like the diamond to be as clean as possible but my Fiancé is also concerned that it shouldn’t look too small. After reading a number of pages on your site I think I was being misled by a number of them and have decided to try and buy online. I looked at both BlueNile and James Allen and have a couple of options I wanted to know if you can look at and give me your opinion on.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1450505.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1440491.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1492740.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1481749.asp

I really appreciate your time and the amazing articles you have on the site.

 A:

Thanks for the note and I am happy the site was able to help. As for the 4 you sent me.

In terms of size these are all pretty much identical. You won’t be able to see a difference between a 1.06 and a 1.01 or 1.02 anyway so you should think of all of these as a 1.00 carat diamond. You can play with the setting so that it appears larger, for example have the diamond mounted high in the prongs.

As for my preference:

My first pick is the I- SI1: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1440491.asp

This diamond is eye clean and also has the largest table which will give it a larger appearance. My 2^nd choice is the J-SI1.  Since you are going with a yellow gold setting you can afford to go down to the J color without worry.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,

Rnady

So after an exciting win, the New York Giants Greg Jones topped of his Super Bowl performance by proposing to his girlfriend, Mandy Piechowski,  on the sidelines. My inside sources tell me his diamond ring was a large round stone set in a band surrounded by diamonds studs.  I have not been able to (yet) get particulars on the 4Cs but I am sure that had he come to me for advice I could have saved him a bundle!

As for the proposal – she said yes!